108 JUDGING SHEEP 



of the back are determined and at the same time the 

 spring of the ribs is made apparent. The width of the 

 loin should then be taken and also its covering and thick- 

 ness. The width of the hips should next be observed, 

 and turning to one side and using two hands the length 

 from the hip to the end of the hind quarter should be 

 made apparent between the two points. Then the width 

 of the hind quarter and the manner in which it is carried 

 back and the fullness should also be examined. Follow- 

 ing the joint towards the leg the development of the 

 thigh on the outside requires examination, and then with 

 the hand the quarters should be firmly felt. 



153. Deception Due to Trimming. In this way the 

 sheep has been thoroughly examined as to form, but it is 

 to be remembered that the hands should be thoroughly 

 relied on to discover all defects of form, and unless the 

 sheep is carefully handled the examiner is very likely to 

 be deceived. The wool of all show sheep and fat stock 

 of the medium wool classes, is always trimmed, and the 

 trimmer possessing skill can give any desired form to 

 sheep, providing the wool is long enough and the sheep 

 approaches somewhat towards the form which is being 

 imitated. 



154. Estimating Age by the Teeth. The order of ap- 

 pearance of the nippers or incisors in sheep is a fairly 

 reliable method of telling their age. The sheep has eight 

 permanent incisors, and these appear in regular order in 

 supplanting the milk teeth. The milk teeth can always 

 be told from the permanent incisors by the fact that they 

 are narrower. The permanent incisors are broad and widp 

 and widened considerably towards the top. The first or 

 central pair 'of incisors appear when the sheep is slightly 

 over one year old. The next pair, that is, one on each 

 side of the central pair, appear the following year, and 

 that is when the sheep is two years old ; the third pair 



